Kniphofia plant named ‘KNI610’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kniphofia  plant named ‘KNI610’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; repeat flowering over a long period of time; and pale yellow-colored flowers with orange-colored apices.

Botanical designation: Kniphofia uvaria.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KNI610’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kniphofia plant, botanically known as Kniphofia uvaria and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KNI610’.

The new Kniphofia originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in 1996 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Kniphofia uvaria, not patented. The new Kniphofia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in November, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kniphofia plant by vegetative divisions in a controlled environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia since December, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Kniphofia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kniphofia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KNI610’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KNI610’ as a new and distinct Kniphofia plant:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Repeat flowering over a long period of time.     -   5. Pale yellow-colored flowers with orange-colored apices.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Kniphofia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia are shorter than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have lemon yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kniphofia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the male parent selection         differ in leaf color.     -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia repeat flower whereas plants of         the male parent selection do not repeat flower.     -   3. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can also be compared to plants of Kniphofia uvaria ‘Little Maid’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Kniphofia differed from plants of ‘Little Maid’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Little Maid’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia and ‘Little Maid’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Little Maid’ had lemon yellow-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kniphofia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kniphofia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KNI610’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘KNI610’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in containers during the winter in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practices which approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 27° C., night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,200 to 5,000 foot-candles. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kniphofia uvaria ‘KNI610’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Kniphofia uvaria, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Kniphofia uvaria, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative divisions.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             compact plant habit; basal rosette of leaves; flowering             stems developing from the center of the basal rosette of             leaves; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of leaves.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About 27             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 17 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple; sessile; grass-like.         -   Length.—About 19 cm.         -   Width.—At the base, about 6 mm; mid-section, about 2 mm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate; strongly keeled.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144B to             144C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147A; venation, close to 147A to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single funnelform flowers             arranged on upright terminal racemes; freely flowering habit             with about 50 flowers developing per inflorescence; flowers             face outward to slightly downward.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower repeatedly from spring to autumn in southern             California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to             seven days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Columnar. Color: Towards the base, close to 1B;             mid-section, close to 2D; towards the apex, close to 24C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Six segments fused into a narrow tube;             apices free. Length: Total, about 1.5 cm; free apices, about             1.5 mm. Width: Total, about 3 mm; free apices, about 1 mm.             Lobe shape: Rounded. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, inner surface: Close to 26D. When opening, outer             surface: Close to 26B. Fully opened, inner surface: Close to             157B; color does not change with development. Fully opened,             outer surface: Close to 2D; towards the base, close to 145D;             towards the apex, close to 31B to 31C; color does not change             with development.         -   Sepals.—None observed.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to slightly outwardly.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Horizontal to bending downward             with development. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             139B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About six per             flower. Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close             to NN155D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 162A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 15C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.3 cm.             Style color: Close to 160D. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma             color: Close to 161B. Ovary color: Close to 146D. Seeds and             fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on             plants of the new Kniphofia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Kniphofia have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain, high     temperatures of about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA     Hardiness Zone 7. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kniphofia have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Kniphofia. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kniphofia plant named ‘KNI610’ as illustrated and described. 